Cartridge pack for trash compaction machine

ABSTRACT

A cartridge comprising a compressed plastic tube for mounting on the tapered end of a hollow cylindrical member into which solid waste or refuse is rammed so that the tube can subsequently be tied and cut into relatively small units containing slugs of compacted refuse. The plastic tube comprises elongated sections, generally about 2 ft. in length, interconnected by external folds, sealed at their bases, so that after a length of tube, such for example as 32 ft., is filled with slugs of compacted refuse, the folds can be readily pulled open, tied, and severed between the ties to form 2 ft. plastic containers of compacted refuse.

United States Patent Delmar [451 Mar. 21, 1972 [54] CARTRIDGE PACK FOR TRASH COMPACTION MACHINE John Kenneth Delmar, l-lavertown, Pa.

[52] U.S. CL. ..138/103, 53/197, 206/46,

206/56 [51] Int. Cl ..F16l 55/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..141/71-80, 67,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,380,220 4/1968 Jennings et al. ..53/197 3,056,244 10/1962 Bartels ..53/22 3,117,873 l/1964 Bartels et al ..53/22 3,412,523 11/1968 Raymond et al ..53/197 3,461,640 8/1969 Bonani ..53/197 3,521,675 7/1970 Dussich ..206/56 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 658,993 4/1938 Germany 138/1 18 Primary Examiner-Houston 8. Bell, Jr. AttorneyMcClure & Millman [5 7] ABSTRACT A cartridge comprising a compressed plastic tube for mounting on the tapered end of a hollow cylindrical member into which solid waste or refuse is rammed so that the tube can subsequently be tied and cut into relatively small units containing slugs of compacted refuse. The plastic tube comprises elongated sections, generally about 2 ft. in length, interconnected by external folds, sealed at their bases, so that after a length of tube, such for example as 32 ft., is filled with slugs of compacted refuse, the folds can be readily pulled open, tied, and severed between the ties to form 2 ft. plastic containers of compacted refuse.

5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures CARTRIDGE PACK FOR TRASH COMPACTION MACHINE This invention relates to trash compaction and more specifically to a plastic tubular member into which the compacted trash is packed for subsequent disposal in units of predetermined size.

There are presently in use a number of different machines which operate on the principle of feeding refuse or solid waste from a hopper into a tube whose delivery end is tapered and forcing the refuse preferably by hydraulic rams through the delivery end where it is compressed or compacted as slugs into containers. In one such machine an extendable plastic tube is mounted on the delivery end of the compactor tube into which the slugs are forced and then the tube is severed and tied into predetermined lengths for disposal.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a plastic tube for mounting on the end of a refuse compactor tube having spaced portions which are not extendable during compaction but are manually or mechanically extendable thereafter so that the areas are made readily available for efficient severing and tying of the tube into units of desired length.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plastic tube of the character described in which the spaced areas which are not extendable during compaction are provided with separable means for readily and easily extending said areas manually or mechanically by the use of a relatively low pulling force which acts to rupture said separable means but minimize rupture of the plastic tube at said areas.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plastic tube for mounting upon the end of a refuse compaction tube having spaced folded portions in which the folds are retained as such by heat sealing means which are readily separable by the exertion of a pulling force which does not rupture the body of the plastic tube and makes available areas which can be readily tied and severed to provide plastic containers of predetermined size filled with compacted refuse slugs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plastic tube for mounting upon the end of a refuse compaction tube having spaced folded portions which are separably joined and a weakened area in each folded portion so that when the folded portions are unfolded by the exertion of a pulling force thereon, the unfolded area can be tied on opposite sides of the weakened area and the latter severed to close off the adjacent plastic containers having the compacted refuse therein.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a refuse compaction machine with the plastic tube of the instant invention shown mounted thereon and partly filled;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the plastic tube completely filled with compacted refuse, partly broken away and partly in section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the area shown as numeral 3 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a portion of the filled plastic tube showing the fold seal broken;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the unfilled areas between the broken seals tied;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a single filled refuse container or package tied at its ends;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the plastic tube showing a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 9 is an elevation of a portion of the plastic tube and similar to FIG. 5 as applied to the modification of FIG. 8; and

Specific reference is now made to the drawings in which similar reference characters are used for corresponding elements throughout.

Indicated at 10 and shown in generalized diagrammatic form is a solid waste or refuse compaction machine comprisin g a hopper into which the refuse is fed, a tube or cylindrical member 14 communicative therewith, a compaction ram 16 slidable therein to push the refuse through the delivery end 18 thereof which is inwardly tapered (not shown) to provide the compaction. While a horizontal compaction tube is shown, it will be understood that the same may also be vertically disposed. The ram is preferably hydraulically operated by controls (not shown) which may synchronize the ram operation and the supply of refuse in the hopper.

The plastic tube of the instant invention is shown at 20 which in the form of overlapped folds 22 forms a cartridge unit of relatively short overall length. The cartridge is slipped over the tapered delivery end 18 of the compaction tube. The outer end of the plastic tube 20 is tied as by a wire as at 24 whereas the inner end 26 is removably held on the compaction tube 14 by suitable means, such as pivoted spring fingers 28. As the solid waste or refuse is compacted at the tapered end 18 of the tube 14 and pushed into the plastic tube 20, the latter will extend to its full length, there being a suitable support, such as a conveyor 30 to support the outer end portion of the plastic tube.

After the plastic tube is filled with compacted slugs of waste or refuse, which can vary in length and is generally about 3040 ft. long when extended and about 18 in. in diameter, it becomes necessary to cut and tie the tube into predetermined lengths, such as 2 ft.

To the end that the plastic tube 20 can be readily and easily severed and tied at the desired lengths with minimal possibility of injury to the filled tube, the tube is constructed with folds or tucks which can be unfolded manually or mechanically with relatively small pulling force after the compacted slugs of waste or refuse have filled the tube.

Coming now to the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 2-6, the tube 20 which is made of a suitable plastic and may be of any desired cross section but preferably circular, is provided at spaced intervals, say 2 ft. apart, with external folds or tucks 32 extending in the same direction from the outer end 24 to the end 26 which is mounted on the compaction tube 14. Each fold is formed by tucking the main body portion of one section 34 under the main body portion of the adjacent section 36 to provide a fold having two circumferentially extending portions 38 and 40 joined by a web 42. Adjacent their bases, i.e., where they extend from the main body portions of the adjacent sections 34 and 36, the portions 38 and 40 are heat sealed as at 44 at circumferentially spaced points, there being preferably four such seals, each 3/8 inch XI] 16 inch, about apart, although two seals about apart may also be employed. While the overall length of the fold 32 may vary, a length of 2 ft. is preferred, each fold portion 38 and 40 being, therefore, about 12 in. long.

When the entire length of the plastic tube 20 is compressed, preferably by folding one portion over the next, it occupies a relatively small length and becomes a cartridge which is readily slipped onto the delivery end 18 of the compaction tube 14, there to be held by the pivoted spring fingers 28, while the outer end 24 is tied by a wire to close it off. As the slugs of compacted refuse are forced into the plastic tube 20 by the ram, the plastic tube fills up and extends its full length. However, because the folds 32 are sealed at their bases and they extend in the direction of the inner end 26 of the plastic tube, the plastic tube fills and unfolds smoothly, the folds 32 remaining attached to the main body portions of the tube by the seals 44.

The end 26 which remained on the delivery end or nozzle 26 of the compaction tube is then removed and closed off by a suitable wire 46. Thereafter, at each of the adjacent sections 34 and 36, a pull is exerted, in the order of magnitude of 5-10 pounds, which breaks the seals 44, as shown at 48, to unfold the fold 32, as seen in FIG. 5. The portion 38 is then tied by a wire 50 and the adjacent portion 40 by a wire 52 and the area between the ties 50 and 52 is then cut. Repeating this procedure for the full length of the plastic tube 20 will produce a plurality of plastic containers 54, see FIG. 7, filled with slugs of compacted solid waste or trash and tied at their ends as at 56 and 58.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the same folded construction as that heretofore described is used except that a circumferentially extending perforated or weakened area or line 60 is provided in either the portion 38 or 40 of the fold 32 adjacent the web 42 so that when the seals 44 are broken, as shown at 48, the perforated or weakened area 60 will extend between the broken seals, and when the ends 38 and 40 are tied, as previously described with reference to FIG. 6, the adjacent tied units can then be pulled apart at the perforated or weakened area, rather than cut.

While any plastic may be used to make the tube of the instant invention, a preferred plastic is polybutylene which has a high tensile strength, high dart drop strength, high tear strength and exceptional resistance to environmental stress cracking. Also, while the preferred embodiment herein is the one in which the bases of the folds 32 are heat sealed or bonded at circumferentially spaced areas, the bases of the folds can also be separably secured by a suitable cement or adhesive for the plastic from which the tube is made.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have here been shown and described, it will be understood that minor variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. For use with a refuse compaction machine and adapted to be mounted as a cartridge on the delivery end of a hollow cylindrical compaction member; a plastic tube having elongated sections and external folds connecting adjacent sections and extending in the same direction towards one end of said tube, each fold including an outer portion continuous with one section of said tube, an inner portion adjacent to the outer portion of an adjacent section and continuous therewith and a web connecting said inner and outer fold portions, and bonding means separably connecting said inner and outer fold portions to each other at circumferentially spaced points, said tube being thereby compressible to a relatively short overall length and when said tube is filled a longitudinal force can be exerted to separate only said bonding means so that said folds will be extended and can then be gathered, tied and severed between the ties to form separate small filled container units.

2. The plastic tube of claim 1 wherein said means bonding said inner and outer fold portions to each other includes heat seals at the base of said portions opposite said web.

3. The plastic tube of claim 2 and a weakened circumferentially extending area in one portion of said fold adjacent its web.

4. The plastic tube of claim 2 wherein the overall length of each fold approximates the length of each tube section between the folds.

5. The plastic tube of claim 1 wherein said means bonding said inner and outer fold portions to each other includes adhesive seals at the base of said portions opposite said web. 

1. For use with a refuse compaction machine and adapted to be mounted as a cartridge on the delivery end of a hollow cylindrical compaction member; a plastic tube having elongated sections and external folds connecting adjacent sections and extending in the same direction towards one end of said tube, each fold including an outer portion continuous with one section of said tube, an inner portion adjacent to the outer portion of an adjacent section and continuous therewith and a web connecting said inner and outer fold portions, and bonding means separably connecting said inner and outer fold portions to each other at circumferentially spaced points, said tube being thereby compressible to a relatively short overall length and when said tube is filled a longitudinal force can be exerted to separate only said bonding means so that said folds will be extended and can then be gathered, tied and severed between the ties to form separate small filled container units.
 2. The plastic tube of claim 1 wherein saId means bonding said inner and outer fold portions to each other includes heat seals at the base of said portions opposite said web.
 3. The plastic tube of claim 2 and a weakened circumferentially extending area in one portion of said fold adjacent its web.
 4. The plastic tube of claim 2 wherein the overall length of each fold approximates the length of each tube section between the folds.
 5. The plastic tube of claim 1 wherein said means bonding said inner and outer fold portions to each other includes adhesive seals at the base of said portions opposite said web. 